Durbin Talks Minimum Wage Referendum

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) hopes Illinois’ minimum wage referendum will have an effect on the state’s congressional delegation. Durbin says he’ll be supporting that nonbinding ballot question, which will ask voters whether workers age 18 and older should be paid at least $10 per hour.

“I’ll be voting for that because I think it’s only fair,” Durbin said. “I don’t begrudge those who are wealthy and have done well in life, have a lot of money. But frankly, when they decide to run for office and forget about working people, that’s a big mistake.”

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It’ll be entirely up to lawmakers whether to raise the minimum wage no matter the result of the referendum. Durbin has supported raising the wage at the federal level.

Several Republicans representing Illinois, including U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) and U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), have stated they’re against an increase.